Colostomy or drainage appliance



March 15, 1960 A. E. MARSAN coLosToMY 0R DRAINAGE APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 6. 1958 INVENTOR. dwc/afwfa MYWQM COLSTMY R DRAINAGE APPLIANCE Arthur E. Marsan, Chicago, Ill. Y

Application anuary 6, 1958, Serial No. 707,429 1 claim. l(ci. 12s- 283) This invention relates to colostomy or drainage appli ances or pouches of the type disclosed in the Marsan Patent 2,741,247. One of the characteristic features of said patent is the low cost of the pouch whereby it is expendable after single use.

The present invention is an improvement over the described patented device in that it serves the function of an irrigating appliance designed for use by persons who require washing, flushing or irrigation internally. This is the case where a person has undergone surgery known as colostomy. A colostomy is performed by cutting the intestine and bringing out the cut end known as the stoma through an opening in the abdominal wall. Most colostomy patients take an enema for irrigation daily through this bowel opening in order to minimize erratic bowel discharge throughout the day and night. Various more or less bulky and rigid types of irrigating appliances have been developed to assist the patient with the problems of irrigating. Most of these appliances are bulky, rigid, and of a complex construction, making them costly and requiring thorough cleaning after each irrigation.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved irrigating appliance which will simplify the technique of irrigating and will generally improve the conditions attendant upon such uses. In this connection my invention is designed to simplify and improve the manner of performing drainage operations of this kind, with the view to promoting greater sanitation and convenience to the person and attendants.

My invention also aims to provide an irrigating appliance of the character described which may be produced at such low cost as to make it economical for discarding the device after each use.

Referring to the drawings.

Figure l is a face view of an irrigating appliance or pouch embodying my invention, with the drainage pouch shortened as to length and partly in section;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on 2-2 of Fig. l, showing, respectively, the normal closed condition and the application of a catheter tube;

Fig. 4 is a section on 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 shows a modified form;

Fig. 6 is a section on 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a modied form of the retainer part, on a reduced scale.

In the illustrative form shown somewhat diagrammatically in the drawings I have provided a tubular drainage pouch designated generally by 6, having an opening 7 adapted to receive the stoma when the pouch is properly positioned against the body and held in such position during the drainage function. The pouch is preferably made of thin waterproof sheet material. In actual practice l prefer to form this pouch with a gusset 8 along each longitudinal edge to allow for expansion of the pouch, although as explained below the gussets may be eliminated. I have also found it practical and economical to form the pouch of polyethylene, but any suitable material may be used. In this form the pouch is sealed across its upper end as by heat-sealing along the line 9. The lower end 11 of the pouch is left open. The pouch is of such length that when the user is sitting on a toiletseat in the conventional manner and the pouch is applied as described, it will pass between the thighs of the legs and into the toilet so that the open lower end permits the bowel discharge to drop into the toilet and be flushed away.

The pouch may be held in position on the person j by any suitable means, such, for example, as a retainer clamps or snap fasteners 15 for detachable connection to the ends 14.

Means is provided for the application of a catheterv tube 16 supplied with water or other liquid from a suitable bag or source. The use of a catheter for drainage in colostomy cases is conventional, but its use asfdisclosed in the present application is in a new combination providing a new technique, greater convenience, and

definitely improved sanitary conditions. The meansy by which these results are accomplished is exceptionally v simple and permits low cost of manufacture of the pouch as a unit so that it may be discarded 'after a single use'.V

The pouch is provided with an opening 17 in the outer wall 18 of the pouch preferably in registration with the stoma opening 7. This opening 17 is for insertion and removal of the catheter tube 16. The opening 17 is normally closed by a closure member 19 preferably of sheet material similar to that of the pouch body as shown in Fig. 1. This closure member is heat-sealed at its marginal edge along the line 21 directly to the outer wall of the pouch except that at the lower edge portion 22, which is open. Thus the catheter tube 16 may be inserted through the opening 17 and also through the opening provided by the lower edge of the closure member 19 and then inserted into the end of the intestine or stoma. After the ushing operation the tube 16 is withdrawn and the member 19 normally assumes a position closing the opening 17 at the inside of the pouch so that drainage does not escape from the pouch except through the lower open end.

In a modified form rshown in Figs. 5 and 6, a closure member 2S is positioned within the pouch and attached thereto only by the single line of heat-sealing 26, similar to the sealing at 9 in Fig. 1. The closure member 25 functions in substantially the same manner as the closure member 19. The member 25 normally closes the opening 17 at the inside of the pouch. The member 25 permits insertion of the catheter tube 16 in the same manner as in the first described form and returns to its closing position after the tube has been withdrawn. It is preferred to use polyethylene or similar translucent material for the pouch Vand closure member because of visibility afforded in applying the catheter tube. Also because of the thin exible material from which the pouch is formed, the catheter tube may be easily manipulated by local displacement of the outer wall of the pouch without disturbing the cooperative relation of the tube and the pouch or the attachment of the pouch to the body.

In actual practice the pouch is about 20 in length, but the length may be varied within the contemplated functions of the device. In the drawings I have for purpose of clarity shown the main walls of the pouch .i Patented Mar. 15, 1960 f separated, but in the normal condition the pouch is ilat size with the gasket 12 but of stronger and more durable material and placed directly against the face"ofthe gasket 12 with the belt clips 15 holding it in position. This reinforcing gasket has a rounded edge 24 continuously along the opening 7 givingV a smooth edge opening. After use of the device the second gasket V23.is removed, properly cleaned, and Vrepeatedly used vwith devices. Y

A modifiedfineans of attachingthefretainer part 12y to the pouch is by heat-sealing, in which case ,part 12 is made of paper or cardboard stock properly pre-coated to provide the means for uniting this part to the pouch in the heat-sealing operation. A

Another modicatoin is to eliminate the gus'sets4 8, as above mentioned. I have found this desirable in some economic situations to permit reuse of the pouch. Eliminatingthe gussets'facilitates cleaning and reuse. However, in hospitals and most conditions it is highlydesirable to dispense with the entire pouch after'each use.

new pouch, Y'

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of the retainer part wherein a series of concentric perforations are made to provide removable sections 27, 28 and Y29. Small uncut portions retain these'sectio'ns in normal position. This provides for stoma openings of diierent diameter, by removal of one or more of the sections.V

I claim: 4 Y

,An irrigating appliance for vcolostomy and other drainage uses comprising a tubular pouchof thin, exible,

moisture-proof material having an inner wall and an outer wall of substantially greater length than width, the pouch being entirely closed except for an. opening inv its inner wall centrally between its side edges and adjacent to its top end `and an opening at its bottom end whereby the pouch may be positioned with its inner wall at against the side of the person with the stoma extending through said opening and with the bottom end depending for drainage through the bottom opening, means for holding the pouch in the described position, the outer wall having an opening in registration with the first mentioned opening of a size suiicient for receiving a catheter tube, and a closure member of thin exible material normally overlying said catheter opening at the inner side of the outer wall and attached to said outer wall so that the closurepportion of the closure member will be displaced from said normal closing position by contact of a catheter tube inserted through said catheter opening into the pouch, the outer wall being freely displaceable with respect to the described position ofthe inner wall on vthe person to permit free manipulation of the catheter tube for probing thereof to enter the tube` into the stoma opening and for insertion of the tube suiciently into the bowel and whereby the closure member assumes its closing position upon withdrawal of the catheter tube from the pouch.

References Cited inthe tile of this patent K UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,154,202 Grieks Apr. 11, 19391' 2,438,073 sauf Mar. 16, 194s 2,540,777 Dean Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 875,854

Germany May 7, 1953 

